Herrick Goes Wire-to-Wire to Claim Second Women's State Open Title

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By Nick Hunter
nick@mngolf.org
 
 
  DELLWOOD, Minn. – Entering Friday’s final round of the 18^th Minnesota Women’s State Open with a slim one-stroke advantage, Olivia Herrick posted a 1-over par 73 to earn a wire-to-wire victory over former champions Sarah Burnham and Lisa Grimes on her home course at Dellwood Country Club.
 
Herrick grabbed the early lead Thursday by firing a 1-under par 71 before fending off a surging Burnham, who posted the low round of the championship of 5-under par 67 Friday and by Grimes, who finished tied with Burnham in second place at  1-over par 145.
 
Winning for the first time this season, Herrick’s finish Friday was her first victory since claiming the 2017 Minnesota Golf Association Women’s Match Play Championship over Burnham at Bent Creek Golf Club.
 
“I am thrilled to have played well this week—I have been working really hard the past few weeks so it feels incredible to see that work pay off,” Herrick said Friday. “This is a big one for me. It’s a strong field at my home course. I have always had a little sting after the [Women’s State Amateur in 2013] was out here and I stumbled in the final round. It feels so good to represent the club and get the win.”
 
Herrick claims the Women’s State Open for a second time after winning the 2011 championship at Hastings Country Club. Trailing Taylor Ledwein by 200 points entering the week, Herrick all but sealed up her fifth MGA Women’s Player of the Year honors with her win Friday.
 
“The player points system is very important to me and I was definitely aware of what was on the line this week,” she said.
 
After struggling during the first round Thursday, Herrick put together a solid front nine Friday, carding a lone bogey at the par-4 seventh as she would turn at even par for the championship.
 
Carding a second bogey at the par-4 11^th, Herrick fell back to 1-over for the tournament before sinking her birdie chance from 25 feet at the 12^th to get back to even par. The shot of the tournament came at the par-3 16^th when Herrick stuck her tee shot inside of two feet for a tap-in birdie to give her a two-shot lead over Grimes, which allowed her to take bogey on the final hole and come away with her second Women’s State Open title.
 
Burnham, who posted a disappointing 6-over par 78 to open play Thursday, came surging back into contention Friday by rolling in four birdies over her first nine holes to pull within two of the lead. A bogey at the 15^th put her back to 3-over, but she would birdie her final two holes to card a 67 and finish tied for second at 145. Burnham set a course record during the final round of the 2013 championship en route to her victory at The Wilds Golf Club.
 
Grimes entered the final round in third place and two shots off the lead and would turn at 1-under for the day, pulling even with Herrick at the seventh. A bogey at the 11^th and a pair of birdies by Herrick would put the four-time winner Grimes one shot back and tied for second at 145 with Burnham.
 
“I tried to focus on my game and just stay in my lane,” Herrick said of having a target on her back Friday. “My caddie let me know on the last hole that I had two to win. I had a 4-footer for par that had a lot of break in it and I did kind of baby that up there just to be safe.”
 
Heck posted a round of even par 72 to begin the tournament in second place Thursday, would pull even with Herrick after a pair of birdies at the 13^th and 14^th holes before falling back with back-to-back bogeys at the 15^th and 16^th holes. She would finish fourth at 2-over 146.
 
 
 
THE 18^TH MINNESOTA STATE OPEN
DELLWOOD COUNTRY CLUB
DELLWOOD, MINN.
6,017 YARDS, PAR 72
 
 
FRIDAY’S FINAL RESULTS
1. Olivia Herrick, Dellwood CC, 71-73-144
T2. Lisa Grimes (p), Alexandria GC, 73-72—145
T2. Sarah Burnham (p), Rush Creek GC, 78-67—145
4. Anni Heck, Southview CC, 72-74—146
5. Sophia Yoemans, Mississippi Nat’l Golf Links, 74-75—149
T6. Grace Kellar, Olympic Hills GC, 77-73—150
T6.  Teresa Toscano, Brookings CC, 74-76—150
8. Savannah Stone (p), Hazeltine Nat’l GC, 79-73—152
T9. Joanna Kim, Timber Creek GC, 80-74—154  
T9. Brenna Lervick (p), Island View GC, 79-75—154   
T9. Angie Ause (p), Oak Marsh GC, 77-77—154
T9. Steffi Neisen, Town & CC, 77-77—154
 
 
For complete tournament results go to:  https://mnpga.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/mnpga18/event/mnpga1847/contest/1/leaderboard.htm